Liquor store rules could change in Southaven

SOUTHAVEN — The city of Southaven is looking at requiring liquor stores to be farther apart and farther from churches and schools.

WMC-TV in Memphis, Tenn., reports that Southaven officials propose widening the buffer between schools, churches, parks and liquor stores. It would change the distance from those family-type atmospheres to liquor stores from 250 feet to 1,500 feet.

The new rules would require a half mile distance between liquor stores.

Cheers Liquor, which already meets the current requirements, and others that are already standing will be grandfathered in.

Even so Cheers Liquor store owner Ronnie Noe does not see a reason for the change.

“Nobody wants to offend anyone’s religion,” he said. “However, on Sundays, all liquor stores are closed.”

Some local churches disagree.

“We have something here every day, so if people are able to buy liquor across the street, you never know if they’ve already had some,” said Linda Gregory, day care director at Southaven Community Church. “I would think it needs to be at more, at least 1,500 feet, if not more.”

The board of aldermen expects to vote on the proposal when they meet Feb. 19.